Contents

Biology

Anatomy

Sandshrew has a white belly and a yellow back. Its back resembles bricked pavement or walls. It has a short tail, four short legs and a small head. Sandshrew resembles an armadillo, and can curl into a very tight ball: about the size of a basketball.

Alolan Sandshrew, having fled the desert due to frequent eruptions, has adapted to the cold climate of the snowy mountains. This Sandshrew has a yellow belly and an ice blue back. Its back resembles bricked pavement or walls albeit colored ice blue. It has a short tail, four short legs and a small head. The majority of its ice blue body is clad in steel-hard ice armour (also sporting the ice brick pattern).

Natural abilities

All Sandshrew have the ability Sand Veil, which raises evasion while there is a Sandstorm. All Alolan Sandshrew have the ability Snow Cloak, which raises evasion in Hail. Sandshrew, when in danger, can curl into a ball to defend itself. Alolan Sandshrew lack flexibility and cannot curl into a ball but have an excelling natural defense which makes up for this. They also have natural maneuverability on ice.

Behavior

Most Sandshrew are timid and they usually run away by digging holes. Despite of this nature, they can become braver and more courageous once they're trained by skilled trainers.

Pokédex entries

Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.

Yellow

Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.

Gold

If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.

Silver

Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.

Crystal

It prefers dry, sandy places because it uses the sand to protect itself when threatened.

Ruby

Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.

Sapphire

Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert sand to sleep.

Emerald

When it curls up in a ball, it can make any attack bounce off harmlessly. Its hide has turned tough and solid as a result of living in the desert.

FireRed

It burrows and lives underground. If threatened, it curls itself up into a ball for protection.

LeafGreen

Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.

Diamond

To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.

Pearl

To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.

Platinum

To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.

HeartGold

If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.

SoulSilver

Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.

Black

To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.

White

To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.

Black 2

It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.

White 2

It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.

X

It burrows and lives underground. If threatened, it curls itself up into a ball for protection.

Y

Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.

Omega Ruby

Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.

Alpha Sapphire

Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.

Sun

Normal Form: It can roll its body into a ball. It moves through the desert by rolling at high speeds.Alola Form: It lives on snowy mountains. Its steel shell is very hard—so much so, it can't roll its body up into a ball.

Moon

Normal Form: It usually makes its home in deserts and arid zones, where rain does not fall. It digs holes to catch Bug-type Pokémon.Alola Form: An ancient tradition of Alolan festivals, still carried on to this day, is a competition to slide Sandshrew across ice as far as one can.

Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
* indicates this move requires chain breeding.
◊ indicates the father must learn this move in a previous generation.
♈ indicates the father must learn this move via a TM.

Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
* indicates this move requires chain breeding.
◊ indicates the father must learn this move in a previous generation.
♈ indicates the father must learn this move via a TM.

Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
* indicates this move requires chain breeding.
◊ indicates the father must learn this move in a previous generation.
♈ indicates the father must learn this move via a TM.

Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.
* indicates this move requires chain breeding.
◊ indicates the father must learn this move in a previous generation.
♈ indicates the father must learn this move via a TM.

Appearances

Anime

Sandshrew made its first major appearance in the episode The Path to the Pokémon League under the ownership of a trainer named A.J. A.J. used brutal methods of training his Pokémon, such as the use of a whip, and was a very strict trainer.